President
Lennart Meri received the Archbishop of Constantinople,
New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, who
is on a visit to Estonia, in Kadriorg today. President
Meri conferred the Order of the Cross of St Mary's
Land on His Holiness, pointing out that the name of
is a reminder of the time 829 years ago, when Estonia
was named after Mother of God. As the President said,
the visits of the Archbishop of Constantinople, New
Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch to different parts of
the world are always followed closely by the public,
and the reason for this is his personal devotion to
the solution of the problems of the world.
''Your
visit to Estonia is also a token of love and consideration
for our people and our culture. Your caring for the
Estonian Orthodox believers has been confirmed many
times. You have sent your best bishop to this difficult
field and I can only gratefully state that he has
by today achieved much in building up the church;''
the President said. As the Estonian Head of State
pointed out, the understanding of the continuity of
cultural traditions was also manifest in the canonisation
of the martyr bishop Plato. As the President said,
he is proud that the Estonian Orthodox Church has
dedicated a decoration to the memory of the martyr
bishop Plato - the Order of St. Plato that was conferred
on the Greek President Constantinos Stephanopoulos
during his visit to Estonia. The President emphasised
that by this act, the Estonian saint and also the
Orthodox here in Estonia introduced themselves to
the world.
The
Patriarchate of Constantinople, known for its successful
environmental symposiums, has a delightful message
for Estonians - the next symposium will be dedicated
to the problems of the Baltic Sea. The President once
more wished to confirm his consent to be a patron
of this event, as he said, the Church in modern times
is aware of the social needs that cannot be ignored
by an ordinary member of the congregation, whether
they be environmental problems, problems of the social
sphere, education or church policy.
The
President recognised the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox
Church, whose members have had to tackle economic,
canonical and political hardships within the last
years, which have made the church flexible and endowed
it with life force; the church is also known at all
levels of the society. ''Our Constitution provides
that the state is separated from the church, but it
has never been said that the church should be separated
from the state. The church is part of the state. It
grows with the state, and cares for its members likewise,''
President Meri emphasised, adding that when state
officials tend to forget about ethics, it is the church
leaders who must refresh their memory.
As
the President said, the big religions of the world
are called upon to increase religious tolerance, so
that the followers of Abraham and Mohammed, Jesus
and Buddha could together speak of brotherly love
without keeping their swords ready at hand. ''The
Ecumenical movement should be especially close to
the heart of the Ecumenical Patriarch, and I am convinced
that New Rome shall be its abundant source,'' the
President said when conferring the decoration.
The
Ecumenical Patriarch expressed his great delight with
the meeting. ''We have been the first among the Archbishops
of the East Orthodox Churches to have restored the
autonomy that was granted to the Estonian Apostolic
Orthodox Church by the Tomos of the Patriarch and
the Synod in 1923, after the resolution of Patriarch
Tikhon of Moscow in 1920, not to rule but to serve
the Orthodox Churches,'' the Patriarch said when receiving
the decoration.
''In
order to recognise and to record for ever and indelibly
the great services that you in your high position
have rendered to the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church
and to your nation, we confer on Your most honourable
Excellency the Holy Cross of the Most Blessed Virgin,''
the Ecumenical Patriarch said. The Most Blessed Holy
Virgin is the patroness and protector of the Patriarchal
Cathedral of Holy Martyr St. George the Triumphant
and the Patriarchal Administration at Phanar.
President
of the Republic hosted a dinner at Kadriorg for of
His Holiness and his accompanying delegation.
Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg,
October 27, 2000
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